leman
was fully as sagacious as himself, and that, after all, the parties
were not so unequally matched. The threatening muzzles were constantly
protruding from behind those logs, and it was absolute suicide for any
one to attempt to stand before them.

Dernor having caught a glimpse of O'Hara, his companion, wondered
considerably that he did not follow the example of the Huron, and unite
with him in the fort. Thus strengthened, his confidence would have been
restored, and he would bid defiance to the Shawnees and Miamis. But, as
he waited, and finally saw that a number of Indians had succeeded in
getting behind him, he was compelled to give up this hope. This excited
speculation the more upon his part, because he was fully aware of
O'Hara's defects, and felt that it would have been the most prudent
course for him to adopt. At length he questioned the Huron:

"Where's Tom?"

"Dunno--gone away."

"Why didn't he do as you did--come over and join me?"

"Tom 'Hara goin' _to do sumkin' else_--_he_ know what."

"I expect he does. He'd better move his carcase from where he was a few
minutes ago, or them dogs will move it for him."

"He know--_dey_ won't move _him_--he get out way soon enough."

"He's got too short legs," said Dernor, who, aware of the affection the
Huron bore him, and experiencing a sort of reaction of his spirits
after their continued depression, was disposed to quiz Oonamoo a
little.

"Got _long_ eyes, dough," replied he, quickly.

"Got long eyes?" laughed Dernor. "I don't know as they're any longer
than mine."

"Good 'eal longer. Tom 'Hara neber let Shawnee and Miami get him atween
the logs--he know too much."

Dernor felt the sarcasm of this remark and took it kindly.

"Neither would they have got me here, had I been alone."

It would be difficult to describe the expression that illuminated the
Huron's face at this remark. He turned his dark, basilisk orbs (their
fierceness now subdued into a softer light) full upon Edith, who,
seated upon a portion of one of the logs, was listening to the
conversation. The muscles around the corners of his mouth twitched a
little, a wrinkle or two gathered, his beautiful white teeth became
visible, but she only half-suspected that he was smiling.

"Nice gal," said he, his voice now as soft as a woman's. "White man
love her--fight for her--Oonamoo do so too."

She did not know whether to be pleased or frightened at the look of the
Huron. In her perplex